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LITTLE MOTHER 



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Copyrisht 1921 by A. J. Schindler. 
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^0^251321 ©CI.D 59:.'35 



'HO I 



' ^ THE LITTLE MOTHER 

ACT ONE. 

SCENK: A poorly furjiished rocm, Ziith icocden kitchen 
table and chairs; dcors to left ana right. Ks cunam riMs, 
Kcse is cnaaoed t/omng ^ofne icash. 

Rose {sighino^). O clear, o dear, it's drudge, drud^-e, 
drudge, from morning till nigni, one day like an- 
other, to keep the poor little children from sia^ving. 
The good Ivord has placed a heavy buu en on my 
young Piioulder^:, by taking away father and moth- 
er, and leaving me to provide for onr exittence. 
Pretty little Nor.i, aiui dear, sweet Tom. They are 
indeed a great ccmfoit to me, ard when I look into 
their innocent littie faccs, I am smply npaid ^or all 
my labor and trouble ( ceases irofAn^, piits lauyidry 
in basket). So there, now tnat's finished. When the 
children come from c-chool, they can bring the laun- 
diy ever to Mrs. ^nath. {clears vp, as Tom aiid 
Pat ivith Nora and May, r^ish on stage, shouting-.) 

Nora < kissing; V^Oio) . O mv dear little mother Rose, 
I'm so happy to see yen. I brought May along/ can 
I go out and play vrith he:? 

Tom {hugging; Roie). And I brought Pat. May I go 
sliding on the pond with h!m? 

Rose. Why, my dears, I have an errand for ycu. I want 
yoti to take this wash over to Mrs. Smith. 

TOm. O that's all right. Pat will give a lift, wont you? 

Pat. Sure I will, -lifts- it aint heavy at all. 

Rose, All right, j^oung mian, if you don't mind. 

Pat. That's easy, Miss Nolan. Come on. Tom, we wont 
be long, take hold -both off with laundry-. 



THE LITTLE MOTHER. 



Rose Aud now, 2>'ora, you may fetch your wraps and 
play with May while I prepare the supper. 

Nora O, goody, thank you. -off left- 

Rose Tell nie dear May, how you fared with your les- 
sons at sciiool t.)-day. 

May Ye;y well indeed; but Nora jumped me in 'rtih- 
injt.c. Sae took first place. 

Rosa {coruolino-.) Do not let that discourage yoti, bet- 
ter luck next time. 

May O. I don't mind as it was my own fault. I did 
not stud/ h.;rd enough, 

Rose {kissing her). There, you sweet little dear. 

Nora \_ruslies on.^} Come on, May, let's hurry on. 

May Very well, I'm ready. \ off chattering.'] 

Rose [^resii;nes diUies].D^?iV Itttie May how unselfish of 
lier not to btar malice towards Nora. Ah! there is 
still some goodiiess left iu this cold, cruel, world. 
{k;iock at Joor.y.lr:^, Snif^ins otters). Wh}'-, how do 
you do, Mrs. Snifiins, what brings you here? 

Sniff, (snappy). Why, I have a very good pair of ped- 
als, and, outside of that. I iiave an important mis- 
sion to perform in the cause of humanity. 

Rosa Indeed, Mrs. Snifhns, no offence. Can I be of 
any assistance to you? 

Sniff. That all deoends. If you can write out a check 
for say, fifty dollars, that will pass the bank-teller's 
inspection, 3^ou could be of material assistance , 

Rose {amazed) Fifty dollars? Why not make it cents, 
or mills: even at that, I doubt if I could material- 
ize to that amount at present. 



THE LITTLE MOTHER. 



Sniff. Well, it's just this wav. We've get to save those 
poor little Hindoo ciuldren from starvation and 
that's aii there ib ic it. 1 am a self -appointed ccm- 
mitiee to solicit subscriptions for their relief, and 
came to enlist your cooperation, {hands list to Rose) 

Rose Bat, my dear wcman, I am afraid that you aie 
starting at the wrong end. judging from your sub- 
Bcription blank, it's all blank a.-^ yet. I would sug- 
gest that you enlist the sympathies of son:e of\he 
more fortunate neighbors. As you know, I have 
barely enough to keep my own Utile Hindoos frcm 
starving, and further, as charity begins at home 
ai:d seii-preservQticn is the first hiw oi nature, I 
must a.-k you to excuse me. 

Sniff, {excited.) That's just what I expected, turned 
down in my first at en pt How can yen expect to 
have any luck in tl is wO'ld il you leiuse to sjd 
your fellow-beings in distress? I'ts no wonder that 
you cannot get fdong, yon deserve your mitfortcce, 
for he who dees net shew syn pcthy, merilt, it not! 

Rose (angrily.) I ask sympathy frrm no one, leaet of 
all from you. Had you any decency vou would not 
humble n:e in this manner. My own I'ittle Hindoos' 
welfare comes first. 

Sniff, (horrified.) Missi Nolan. I'm horrified! Have 
you lost all religious instinct? 

Rose Idcfiani.'] I may have lost my religion, but my 
moral instinct tells me the sooner vou leave, the 
better for both, -points- There's the door. 

Sniff, (hatighty.) Very well, you'll regret this inso 
lence . S^hic rries off. ] 

Rose \damming door.] Insolence,? Bosh! -after paKse 



HE LITTLE fyiOTHER. 



Ross \retnor$efhd.) I'm afraid I was rather rade to 
Mrs. isiii'^iis, and acted iu an unchristian spirit, 
but goodoc&s knows that I aio unable to assist the 
p^or Ilttk Hiadoos. Ferhap, some day, the Lord 
Will bless me with riches, aad then I can atone for 
iny raiea^n^ \ knock at i>on What, more visiters? 

OraCK {^filers, ^ru^iy.) I must have the balance oi my 
rent Miss Nolan, and that at once, or ont you go. 

Rose {pleading-.) Why, Mr. Crabbe, I would gladly 
give it tj yon if I had it. but you may b«;iieve me, 
I haven't a cent to my name, 

Crab, Th;u's no fault of mine, besides, I am tired of 
all these excnses, and must insist on payment. 

Rose I woald pay, bnt I can't draw blood from a stone. 

Crab. It's not a qn^^st'cu of blo:>d, it's money I want. 

Rose I surely will pay when I get the money. 

Crab. Then go, get ;t; I shan't leav^e until you do. 

Roso {tearfully.) Serely, Mr. Crabbe, you cannot be 
so hard ^i\A cruel to me. The only money I'ii have 
are the few cents that Tom wilibi-ing for doing up 
Mrs. Smith's wash, and TU need that to buy food. 

Grab. I'm not lookinij after yonr welfare, I'm after my 
mcney. [Tom rushes m followed by Pat, Nora and 
May. Crabbe grabs Tom, shouting] Hand over the 
money you got from Mrs. Smith, it belongs to me 

Tom [dra7iJS back, defiantly. Ji Who says I got money 

from Mrs. Smith? 

Grab. I do. Hand it over, or Til take it from yon. 
Nora [stfrnh'.] If yon do. you are & t kief I 



THE LITTLE IV10THER, 



Crab. What's that, you little brat? Take that for your 
insoleiice {is about to strike her as Rose intervenes.^ 

Rose {shrieking.) Stop where you are, yon miserable 
coward! If you must strike, then strike me. S^draws 
Nora to her ^Xi/d^Crabbe crouches) Do DOt dare touch 
this poor iittie child, least I be tempted to scratch 
those bleary eyes out ot your sodden head. 

Crab, {trembling , as he backs out.) Very well, I'll go; 
but the marshal will be at the dcor to-morrow, to 
throw you and your pesty brats out into the street. 

Rose {slamming door*) Go ahead, and do your mean- 
est, you miserable skinflint. 

Tom {sparring off ,) O, if I were only a big man now, 
how I would woUop the old jelly-fish. 

Rose {_rtbuking.^ No, no, Tom, you must not say 
that; Mr. Crabhe is within his rights to demand 
the rent. Has Mrs. Smith paid for the laundry? 

Tom No, Rose, being as they were short of funds at 
the mills, she could not pay. 

Rose More mieery indeed, and the long wintrer ahead. 
But come, ciiiichen, and have supper, \_brings a 
quarter loaf of bread, cuts into four slices, handing, 
each a piece. "^ It isn't much of a supper, but it will 
have to do for to-night, the Lord will provide for 
to-morrow. Come, May and Pat, cit down, keep 
them company while I arrange the beds, -off' 

May Vv^hy no, Miss Nolan, we wont take your last bit 
of bread from you, by no meatis. 

Pat We'll get our sapper at home, thanks. That re- 
minds me. I have a sandwich left over from my 
lunch, and you are welcome to it -hands it to Tom.- 



TH£ LITTLE l^tOTH'ER, 



^ay Ar.d I Imve a lew cookies left ever. If you don't 
mind' (hands cakes ta Nora.) 

Hcva Thanks. May, this is so kind of you. 

lorn \muyfchi:ig:.) Ivlticb obliged, Pat, it's delicious. 

Pet Co-.ae on, Mav, we must be going now, or 'Pt-e'll 
ottisb our snpptr. Bg long, Tom. 

Msy (/If.o'fc.? Nora.) Good niglit, dear, God bless you, 

Nora Good liigbt, pleasant dre.'-ms. [Pat and May off, 

Tom Now isrj'L ibnt nice of the Farrei] kids? 

Mora indeed it iJ^, they L;fe great chums. 

Rose ^c.'i^i^/'-i.) Well, ch'ldren, if you are finished with 
f^uppc-r then get at your lessons. You know that it 
is a ve:y coid nii^'ht. and its snowitig.so the soon- 
er you are tucked in your beds the warmer j^ou'li 
be. 'y clearing: table,) Where did you get the cakes? 

No''a Pat -XA I M \y F:irrell left them. 

Tu'Ti Yes, left-overs from lunch; ain't they kmd. 

Nora Now pkuse, Rc~e, do eax something, wont you? 

Rose 'iconfiisad.] Why, I ate while yoi were at play. 

Nora O. vou fibbtr; dcn't you know it's a Bin to lie? 

To«r. You can't bluff us, Rose, you must eat some of 
thir- [/£??Tc'j her in chair. Rose resisting .'\ 

Flos^i No, no, dears, the truth is I'm net well. 

Tom I suppose you are suffering frora indigestion. 

Mora No. I think it's from eating too much 

x^.:^:^^ Come, cliildren, n^w .study your kssons while I 

ck'-Ar tl>^ table ir, th^ meantirae.[<:/''j/rtV#;»z study.'] 



THE LITTLE IVIOTHER. 



Ross (as she jlniihes). So, now I nu:st be off to visit 
poor widow Brown, bhe is quite ill, and I w^ill try 
and make her comfortable for the night. {puis 07i 
shawl). In the meantime study yo'ar lessens, and 
don't let anyo.i? in the house, nnbersla^id? I'll be 
back shoriiy. h-stch the door after me, Tom. - off- 

TcJTJ All right, Rose, don't be long {latches door) . 1 
don't see why Rose worries about the house. Sure 
there" s nothing to sleid here, e^icept it be yen. 

Nora {looks Zip frotfi beck). Me? Get along with ycnr 
lionseiise. Who pnt that hiily notion in your head? 

Tom Kscatrd by Nora). O, 'taint you they'd want, but 
3'our shiniiig golden tresses. 

Ncra \rttrov)n^\. O, mird ycnr foolishness, you old 
liatteier, and study \our lessons es Rose bid you. 

Tcm All ri^bt, dearie, here frees my history, -recites- 

America discovered Christopher Columbus after he 

sailed from Ferdinand and l.^abella, and - and- 
Nora idrcps book\. And? What are you jabbering about 
Tom Why, what's the matter with that? 
Nora Theie ahit no matter to it. Kcw cot^Id /America 

discover Columbus? 
Tom And why not? Didn't the Indians discover him 

when he landed in America, after sailing from Mr. 

Ferdinand when he left Spein, eh» smany? 
Nora That may be, but you have your lesson twisted. 

iknock at door's Listen! Som.ebcdy is knocking, 
rem Sure, let him knock, you know cur orders [con- 
' tinues'). As I was saying, Ferdinand and Isebella 

sailed fioni Spain to discover -repeated knocking,- 



10 THE LITTLE MOTHER. 



Mora itimid). Sh-h-h! Somebody's at the deer. 

Tom IvCt him stay there, for all I care (reads on). Is- 
abella sailtd from Columbus to discover Ferdinand 
in America {louder knocks, zoice^'Open the door". 

Tom (aside). O open it up yourself (increased knocking' 
wzV^"Open up, I'm cold and freezing out here"). 

Nora {frightened). What will we do? I'm afraid. How 
I wish Rose were YtQX^.\_voicc "Do I come in?" ] 

Tom No, thanks, you may stay Q\x\.\_to Nora]. Listen, 
Nora, you go upstairs, I'll attend to this prowler. 

Nora \_goins, off^. All right, but don't open the door, 

Tom Don't worry, I'll attend to him. [goes caiUiously 

to door~\. Who's there? 

Roger {from without). It's me, let me in. 

Tom So sorry, there's nobody hcm^e. But, who do 
you wish to see? 

Rog. It's Rose Nolan I wish to see. She lives here, I 
understand. Let me in. 

Tom Yes, she lives here but isn't home. Call again! 

Rog. No, no, open up, I have good news for Rose. Let 
me in, I won't harm you. 

Tom Well if that's the case, maybe I'll let you in. 

(Tom opens door slightly arid peeps onLHoger push- 
es in door and enters^ 

Rog. Well, this is a fine way to treat a fellow, I must 
say. M^/, but it's cold outside. LH me sit by the 
stove and warm up a bit before Ro^e returns. 



THE LITTLE MOTHER. n 



Tom {siipicioicsly). vSure, you may sit on the stove for 
all the good it w'll do you. 

Rog. What, have you no five in the house? 

Tom Nope. The fire is gone out, for a walk, and the 
coal miners are out on a strike, they say. 
(Rose is cautiously peering cut, listening, 

Reg. (aside). My, this is frightful! Little did I dream 
that they were so destituted (to Tern). He\e you a 
coal scuttle aroucd the house? 

Tom Sure, but there's no bottom to it. 

Rog {siiaki7iz head). And had you your supper? 

Tom Yes, but tliere ain't none left, so please don't 
ask for any, and you won't be disa; pointed. 

Rog. (aside). This is awful, indeed! (to Tom). Here, 
young man, you run over to the grocers, and have 
him fill a scuttle with coal, and gtt a dc7cn eggs, 
and .some bacon and tea, and crackers and- 

Tom [j:aping- astonished]. And some cheese? O, yes, 
I'll ditam about it. 

Rog. No. seriously my lad. do as I tell you. [hands 
7noney'], Here, take this money and don't be locg. 
jom O, that's dilTerent. It ain't counterfeit, is it? 

Rog. Don't worry, ju>t run alon^, now. [Tom puts on 
coat a fid rushes ojj .] Surely, I did not expect to see 
such misery here, {^seated ivith buck to door. Nora 
listens intcritly]. It seems but yesterday, that I left 
this place for parts unknown, bidding goodbye to 
my sister a.nd her dear little ones, {.reflecting^ 



THE LITTLE TvlOTHER. 



Rog. {co?it inning) . In all these years I had no word 
from home, none could reach me, as I roamed 
from place to place, seeking my fortune. And, fi- 
nally, arriving' here, 1 learned of the death of my 
sister, and of the pitiful plight of her children. So 
I hastened here, to give aid and comfort, and bring 
joy and snnshine to this wretched heme again, 

R0S8 {enters^ excitedly). Wh-/, Tom, haven't I told you 
to latch tne door after me? Where aie you, where 
is Nora? {discovers Roger, shrieking). What does 
til's mean, where aie my children, how dare you 
intrude here? (alarmed, as Roger remains unmoved, 
calling). Nora, Tom, where are yen? 

Mora (rushes toivards Rose). Here I am, and don't be 
alarm.ed, for that's Uncle Roger, back frcm the wil- 
derness. O, ain't I glsd. 

Tom (rushes i?t with gf'oceries and coal). And here am 
I, Rof^e. I'll start up the f're in a jiily, and we'll 
all have tea, thanks to our good fairy. 

Ros3 \_hewildered, looks steadily at Roger who remains 
iinmoved\. I- I- cannot- understand. What is the 
meaning of all this? 

r^ora I'll tell you all. Pvose, for I overheard every word 
Uncle Roger said. 

R0S8 That cannot be Unc^e Roger, he must be dead. 
We had no word from him since he left us, many, 
many years ago. 

R33- [r^--J towards R.ose with outst, eshcd Iiaitds'] 

No no, P.ose, nnt dead, but very miTcli r.livc, and 
hippy t3 ser72 3"0U and your litt.e fa:"ily. 



THE LITTLE MOTHER. 13 



Rog. {draws Rose to seat). It's a long story I have to 
tell of my foreign rcamings aiid adventures, but 
we'll leave that to relate after you prepare the little 
repeat that I sent Tcm for. 

Tom Yes, and here's the change. I fetched everything 
but the eggs. I slipped and- and fell, and left the 
eggs scrambled down the street, {hands change) . 

Rose So it is you indeed. Uncie Roger? I can scarcely 
believe ii. I should ntvtr have reccgnized ycu. 

Rog. In order to di-pel all further doubt, do you rec- 
ognize this? (shows mole on neck). If you can re- 
member you used to tease m.e about this mole, and 
say that I could not get loj-t with'that mark on me. 

Rose {jumps up, juUlant), It is you indeed, our dear 
Uncle Roger, welcome to our humble little home. 
The good Lo:d has sent you just in time, as 1 was 
on the verge of des; airiiig, re* dj^ to give up. It 
was a terrible struggle snd I am nigh exhausted. 
{sobbing, as she kneels). O Gcd in heaven, I thank 
you from the depths of m-y heart for this timely de- 
liverance. (Roger gently laises Rose). 

Rog. [dra7vs Tom and Nora towards hint] Yes. He be 
praised and thanked. He has taken the cares and 
bu'dens from your shoulders, end has sent m.e to 
be a big father to you all. 

Nora And may I call you daddy? 

Rofl. To be sure, little one. 

Tom And I'll call you just plain pop. 

Rog. Agreed. And Rose will be our little mother. 

All Won't that le nice. 



14 THE LITTLE MOTHER. 



Rose {ti7nidly').kvA may I ask a favor from you? It's 
not for myself that I am asking, but I promised to 
to make a donation to the starving Hindoo child- 
ren, and if you will help me, I will be so happy. 

Roger {smiling). Why certainly, dear little mother. 
But let me first help my own little Hindoos, {puts 
necklace about Rose.) Accept th'S token as a reward 
for your heroic self-sacrifice and devotion. God 
bless you, you good, dear, sweet Little Mother. 

CURTAIN. 



t .r r . r . t . i . i ' .y^ T- ' -?- ? nrm . t . T . T , ; j. | t . t . t . ; ,m TjTrm M, ' . t , ' . i ■T: i .M. i JJJ.M. n 

IW^ copyright Notice. ..^^J 

^his play bei7iQ, duly copyrighted, 
all rights, including acting privi- 
leges a7-e reserved, and no preform 
ance of it may be given exc^pt by 
special arrangement with the 
author. 

A. J. Schindler, Bloomfield, N. J. 
p/TTyTi '.'I'l'rm'riTn 'i'i'i7V^3'fii'i''ii3vri''i "' 




017 400 194 7 



To Sister M. G UILLsiLrM A, O.S.I). Now York 



THE LITTLE MOTHER 



CAST 01'^ CHARACTERS 



/?ose Nolan, 

Tom Nolan, 
Fat Farrell, 
Sally Sn ff.e. 



the little mother 
the liftie family 
the friendly chums 
the bj.3y-body. 



Roger Earle, the tmc.^e 

Nora Nolan 

MoyFarrell 

Li a3 Crabbe, landlord 



Scenery: Poorly fiinii.shed room, with doors right and 
left; Avooleii kitchen table andchaiis, ironing board 
v\asii basket, and vva-h placed about conveniently. 

Costumes: Ordinary dress appropriate to the charac- 
ter , with nukc-up to match. 

ARGUMEMT 

The plot of this )Uy centers .mnind Rose, the little 
mother, who, by the untimely death of her pirents. is 
bringing up her Ittth si.^ter and brother. Ry doing 
washii g and other domestic work, she earns a small 
pittance, b irely en^ ngh for a megre extstence, yet 
j^he struggles l)ravely on, full of self-sacrifice and de- 
votion to her little family. 

How she rebukt-s the brazen Sally Sniffle, who is 
solicitmg aid for the starving ; liudo') clnldren; how 
she lises up in wrath and anger, as Silas Crabbe is a- 
l>:>ut to strike Nora for nlteiing a justified remark; 
how she divides the last morsel of bread among the 
children, and finaly as she is about to give up in des- 
pair, a God sent mes'-enger in the guise of Uncle Rog- 
er aprears, back from the Indies, with wealth uiitold 
to alleviate her sufferings. Tliese are some of the inci- 
dents unfolded, yet, withal. Rose as a happy and 
lovable disposition which tends toeniivtn tlie play. 



HoUins 
pi- 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




017 400 194 7 # 



